Improvement in pouncing-blocks



H. G. DISBROW. Pnunbing-Block.

`Paten-tedMarch16,1875.

No.l60,753.

@Mmm

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HENRY G. DISBROW, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND WILLIAM A. BROWN, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

yIMPROVEMENT IN POUNCING-BLOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 160,753, dated March 16, 1875; application filed February 18,1875.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY G. DIsBRow, of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain Iniproveinents in Pouncing-Blocks used in the manufacture of hats, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is an elevation of my improved pouncing-block. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the same on the line m @c of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a vertical section on the line y y of Fig. 1.

In the manufact-ure of hats, the hat-body, after being shaped and dried, is submitted to the pouncing77 .opera-tion, which consists in placing it on a block or form revolved by machinery and subjecting the hat-bodyto the action of sand, emery, or pumice paper, by which the hair is removed and a uniformly smooth surface given the hat-body, as required.

The pouncing-block ordinarily used is composed of a solid piece of wood, or of separate pieces of wood compactly united, so as to form a solid mass, which block is, however, objectionable, for the reason that its weight, when in motion, causes an incessant vibration of the machine by which it is revolved, and where a number of machines are in use the vibration is so great as to shake, and frequently damage, the floors and walls of the building in which they are placed.

To dispense with the use of a heavy block or form, and to avoid the above-described evils incident thereto, a form has been constructed of duck or canvas, secured to a wooden base or bottom, but this latter form, although possessing the necessary lightness, is nevertheless objectionable, for the` reason that it does not possess the required degree of stiffness, and will not permanently retain its original shape (which is essential) during the application of pressure to the hat-body thereon while being pounced.

Furthermore, when either the solid block or canvas form is used,`the small imperfections which arc found in felt bodies, and usually denominated dags 7 or welts,77 are cut or ground oi' in such manner as to produce spots or blemishes on the surface of the hatbody.

To overcome the objections incident to the blocks or forms above referred to is the purpose of my present invention, which consists in a pouncing-block or form composed of cork, either hollow or solid.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawings, A represents a solid block or form 7 of cork, of a cylindrical shape, rounded at its top. The base or bottom a of this block is composed of wood, and is provided at its center with a circular metallic plate or disk, b, having a central opening, c, to admit of its being secured to the top of the vertical shaft (not shown) by which it is revolved.

Over this block is tightly drawn the hatbody, which is submitted to the action of sand, emery, or pumice paper, held in contact therewith by the inisher.

The block, being composed of cork, is of a specific gravity sufficiently light to preclude the possibility of undue vibration while being revolved, and the cork also possesses the elasticity essential to the production of good results in the pouncing operation; but, to increase the elasticity and resiliency of the block, and thereby still further add to and perfect the nish, I provide the cork block with a covering, B, of rubber, iitting snugly thereon, so as to revolve in common therewith.

Instead of a covering of rubber, one of felt, or of other less elastic material, may be employed, or a covering of sheet metal suffi ciently thin to be capable ot yielding may be used, and a hollow form of rubber thick enough to possess the necessary rigidity may be substituted for the cork block, if desired and, furthermore, the covering D may be used in connection with a pouneing-block Witness my hand this 16th day of Februeomposed of material other than cork, Without ary7 A. D. 1875. departing from the spirit 0f my invention.

/Vlmt -I claim as my invention, and desire f HENRY G. DISBRO'V. to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A hat-pouncing block or form, A, composed In presence ofof cork, substantially as and for the purpose N. W. STEARNS, set forth. l. E. TESGHEMACHER. 

